Queen's Baton Relay arrives in Berkshire today
The relay is part of the build up to the commonwealth games
Last updated 6th Jul 2022
Details of the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay as it tours Maidenhead, Eton and Windsor on Wednesday 6 July, have been revealed.
Birmingham 2022 is hosting the 16th Queen’s Baton Relay – a journey which brings together and celebrates communities across the Commonwealth during the build-up to the Games commencing on 28 July.
The Queen’s Baton will be welcomed to the Royal Borough on the morning of Wednesday 6 July, as part of a 25-day tour of English regions, and the council has announced the full route and how to follow the relay on the day.
Along the way, the Baton will be carried by Batonbearers, including para-powerlifter Louise Sugden, of Maidenhead. The Baton will be cheered on by Mini Batonbearers, students from local schools who are taking part in the Schools' Baton Relay later in July.
A route map above shows where the best public viewing areas are at Maidenhead Waterways bridges, Eton High Street, Eton Bridge, Barry Avenue and Alexandra Gardens in Windsor.
Timetable
The event is scheduled to start at around 9.20am when the Baton is expected to depart from Library Square, in St Ives Road, following a welcome reception of local dignitaries and school children. It will proceed along Maidenhead Waterways in a 100-year-old open launch as far as the pontoon.
For the public, there will be viewing areas on the Waterways bridges and people are advised to arrive in good time as space there is limited. The Baton will go to Taplow Lake for a wakeboarding and paddleboarding session with an invited audience, before heading to Thames Valley Athletics Centre to join Windsor Girls’ sports day.
The relay will later proceed through the private grounds of Eton College and, subject to making good progress, is scheduled to reach Eton High Street at around 10.35am for a hand-to-hand relay down the High Street, over Eton Bridge and along the promenade on Barry Avenue, Windsor.
People are invited to line Eton High Street to watch, with additional public viewing areas on Eton Bridge and the pavements along Barry Avenue. Traffic will be held briefly as the Baton passes: on Pococks Lane, side roads leading into Eton High Street and along Barry Avenue.
At around 10.50am, the relay is scheduled to reach the bandstand at Alexandra Gardens, Windsor, and the everyone is invited to join a community celebration from 10.30am until 1pm, with music, 'have a go' sports and selfies with Batonbearers.
Councillor Andrew Johnson, the Council Leader, said:
“We look forward to welcoming the Queen’s Baton to the Royal Borough on its way to the Commonwealth Games, and we’ve planned a unique relay route that will showcase our fantastic borough and bring the excitement of the Games to our communities and the wider Thames Valley.
“This is also a great opportunity to inspire more people to get active locally, even possibly our next Commonwealth star, and we are inviting everyone to join in with this historic occasion, cheer on the Baton’s progress at the public viewing areas and join the community celebration at Alexandra Gardens.”
For more information about the Queen’s Baton Relay, visit www.birmingham2022.com/qbr